Machka 

It's not WINTER until ...

.... well? How would you finish that sentence?



Here's mine:

It's not winter until ...
... my entire ride occurs in sub-freezing temps (that's below 0C/32F), even the long rides
... there's at least some snow/ice lying around
... snowmobiles drive along side me in the ditch while I ride
... I wear no less than 3 warm and wooly layers under my jacket every time I go for a ride
... it's a fight to keep my glasses from fogging up when I stop at a light
... I don't have to worry about blowing snot rockets, the snot just freezes and breaks off instead
... I don't bother carrying a waterbottle ... what's the point, 15 minutes into the ride it is frozen solid
... I nearly get thrown from the bicycle when the snow packs in around the forks and stops my tire

DieselDan

Maybe you should winter down here. We haven't had any snow accumilation since December 25, 1989!

Winter here means ear warmers, booties, arm warmers, hat, and tights all at the same time. You may do that four to ten times in January or Febuary.

Snuffleupagus

When I can't feel my fingers, toes, nose or ears.

When my eyes water...and then the tears freeze on my balaclava.

When I to stop back by my vehicle to defrost my derailleurs by the exhaust pipe.

jimbud

Most cyclist in my neck of the woods here in Northern Minnesota call it the end of the Fall riding season when the DNR starts prepping the bike trails for snowmobile use. I go more by the calender, up to Thanksgiving it's Fall riding, after Thanksgiving it's Winter riding. This coming week should have a couple of great Fall riding days. Low 60's on Tuesday and Wed.

mollusk

Please don't hate me, but ...

It isn't winter until you need your full-fingered gloves if riding just after sun-up. If it's really the dead of winter I get out my old long sleaved wool jersey.

Tomorrow at 6:30 am it is supposed to be 53 F so I'll have the jacket on over a short sleaved jersey. Last Sunday it was 42 F when I started and I wore the full-fingered gloves for the first hour and then switched to regular gloves. The jacket stayed on all morning as did the leg warmers. Tomorrow is borderline leg warmer weather for me.

'nother

It's not "winter" here until we have 3 days of nonstop rain. Fortunately, the next dry day is usually the start of Spring

krazyderek

snow....

JoMo

It's not winter untill I open the garage door and grab the snow shovel, shovel a path down the driveway to the street. Then I shovel a path to the end of the block and around the corrner. I stop shoveling, and run back to the house jump on the "winter bike" (same as the summer bike) and ride down the drive to the street around the corrner to were I left the shovel. I keep doing this untill spring, no no untill I get around the block, and the next thing you know I got myself my own MUP!!! Not realy I HATE WINTER!!!!
Bring on global warming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

garysol1 

i wait a couple of hours for the sun to warm the air before I ride....Winter has no official start date or end date for me. It is just a feeling

BikeWNC

Winter starts the first time I get on the trainer. I try to put it off as long as possible.

NomadVW 

When there's snow on my mountain routes. Kinda like this:

BoSoxYacht

It's not winter until.... .... I wear long pants to work(normally mid-December).

simplyred

Dedication right there

Or insanity - depends on who you ask

What tires did you use for that weather?

MediaCreations 

It's not winter until .....

.... June next year.

We're heading towards another glorious summer here in Perth, Western Australia.

big john

The hot, dry Santa Ana winds stop blowing.
It's dark at 4:45 pm.
People snivel because it's 50 degrees at the ride start.

ViperZ

Until somebody comes slidding and drifting through a redlight or 4 way stop with brakes fully locked


Or until I trap these on




Or these

cocoasprinkles

it isn't winter in my miami until the weather man says it is, then it's over when they say it is. there really is no proof.

John Wilke

Man, you're getting me worked up now. I searched and found out that Nokian Hakkapeliitta makes bicycle tires:



COOL! I've used Hakkapeliittas on my cars and LOVED them.



Okay, one more road ride today, then it's time to get the MTB ready.

Maybe it's time to start hanging out in the Winter Cyling forum too.

jw

(Oh, to me, it's really winter when I'm on my XC skis. )

ViperZ

John, those Nokian W240 Bicycle Tires are said to be the best that is available. Check out my thread in the Winter Cycling section regarding my Contintntals. There is a review of the major studded tire brands.


Here is my Thread



I'm actually going to trade those Continental 120s for the 240 fully studded tires.

arcticbiker

I've been using Nokians for many years now w/o incident. I've ridden on clear ice roads uphills with good traction. Deep snow is another problem. Thinner tires sink into the snow and get traction when they hit bottom. But if the snow is too deep, you need wide tires which float on top better. Depends on your particular conditions.

wfin2004

It is not winter here until I turn off the air conditioner and open the windows to catch the nice breezes! You poor guys who have grey skies, snow and cold arctic air for 7 months out of the year get NO sympathy from me.

ViperZ

And we don't want it

We love the seasons, winter and all the new challenges it brings

wfin2004

What do you do when the temp drops below freezing? You can't wear shorts.

botto 

you can't even ride your city bike.

botto 

some of us tolerate winter to live in the 1st world.